35. Tightening Our Belts

We must not forget too that there were times when we really had to tighten our belts especially during the 50s and early 60s when we were growing up. Besides providing for our basic needs, our parents made sure everyone of us had a good secondary school education. We admired how our parents had sacrificed their own needs for it was not easy putting us through school on father's small income.

We are very fortunate for we have enough food to eat though at times it was just rice and a can of baked beans, or sardines, or mackerel and black beans, or fermented bean curds to feed the whole family.

Our parents were very thrifty and somehow they managed to care for us through those difficult years with their sheer determination and sacrifices. It was a blessing for we seldom see them quarrel, and the few times they did were usually about money or rather the lack of it, and what priorities to handle with the small amount of money they had.

There were a lot of expenses such as school uniforms, school fees, exam fees, books, shoes, stationery etc. They even gave us some pocket money to buy food during school recess so that we wouldn't go hungry. I recalled getting 10 cents while I was in primary school and that would buy me a cold glass of rose-flavoured drink and a kueh golok (fried mashed banana and flour) which was almost as big as a tennis ball.

The handling down of old uniforms, books and shoes from the older sibling to the next younger one was another tradition that helped cut costs. Mother taught us to be responsible for our own things by insisting we washed our own canvas shoes and undergarments. They showed great interest in our school work and progress and also get to know all our friends. They made sure we do not mixed with the wrong crowd.

Though father had only some formal education, he made sure that we do our homework and study every evening. We have to study on our own as private tuition was very costly. He was not a very strict disciplinarian, and he seldom uses the cane as we do not give him any reason to so. But he was firm and occasionally uses the cane or the ruler to knock our knuckles to punish us for misdeeds or unfavourable report cards.

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